Free Her Dark Dragon by Lillith Payne

easily to his aunt's left. He walked around to sit on her far right. She gave him an odd glance, but Maria started talking before Danni could find the right words. His slim smile told her he'd put one over on her.
    It seemed, according to Maria, her flight wasn't until this evening, which gave them time for an early supper at her favorite restaurant in San Francisco before dropping her at the airport. Trying to relax beside her, Danni glanced to Nico, who had finally smiled. She'd have to wait, even to touch him, for hours it seemed. His small torture would be returned, she knew, at a later date. Engaged in conversation with Maria, they reached the restaurant in record time, passed an enjoyable hour over wonderful food prepared by Maria's old friends, and then continued on to the airport. The driver pulled up to the departures area, and after taking her luggage to the cart, nodded to Nico for whatever was pre-arranged, returned to the car, and moved it from the lane.
    Inside, the bright light was almost blinding. They stayed with her in line, through her check-in, and were able to walk her to the security gate. There she gave Nico a big hug, whispering words Danni couldn't hear. She was next, swallowed up in Maria's warmth, their cheeks pressing. "I don't know all of what's going on, Danielle, but if you need anything, go to Nico. And if it's about Nico…" His aunt pulled back and smiled, "You've always been family, to make it permanent would make me very happy. Bambinos running through Casa Maria are exactly what we all need." She laughed, adding, "Don't be so shocked, I'm an older woman, not old!"
    "You're mistaken, Tia. Nico and I are just friends."
    "You keep believing that for now if it's what you need to do, but remember, I'm only a call away." She pressed a small slip of paper into Danni's hand and gave Nico one last hug. "Be nice," she said, turning toward the security personnel before her. Once through the process, she paused to blow them a kiss before walking steadily toward her gate.
    Nico dropped his arm over Danni's shoulders as they walked toward the exit. It was an automatic gesture, one he'd done many times with her. She didn't question the movement.
    "Do you want to wait until her flight takes off?"
    "No, she'll be fine. She's right, you know. She's older, not old. I realized that today while I was trying to organize her."
    Danni laughed aloud at the concept of anyone organizing Maria Severino. She slipped her arm around his waist and tugged him closer, wanting to feel the solid mass of him nearer.
    "Maybe she'll come home with a boyfriend," Danni said, only as conversation, and felt Nico flinch. "What? She's still young enough to marry, maybe not for childbearing, but certainly to spend time with a man who loves and respects her."
    Nico had no further comment other than a grunt while lifting his other arm. Their car pulled up toward them. Once inside and away from the airport rush, Danni turned to Nico.
    "Would the thought of having another man in your vineyard be so terrible if it made Maria happy?" Danni was curious, not hesitating with her questions.
    "Maria can bring home any man she wants, but he wouldn't be in my vineyard. He may live at our home and on our land, but he'll never have any say over the label or the vines."
    For Danni, that one sentence summed up Niccolo Severino. She'd always be second to an inanimate object, even though she understood how he felt. "No, nobody will, ever. As you told me once, she's your mistress and you don't share."
    "That's an odd reference, Danni. Are you spoiling for a fight, hoping to ruin the arrangement?" Their gazes locked and she paused to consider his taunt.
    "Not at all. In fact, this little excursion you planned worked quite well. I'm well past my nerves and just horny now." Before he could counter, she continued. "Is the privacy screen truly private, Nico? Is that what you had in mind?"
    She slid across the leather seat next to him, reached toward his chest,